The Art Library

The Kunsthalle Karlsruhe’s Art Library is one of Germany’s largest museum libraries open to the public. It is founded on the private book collection of Margravine Caroline Luise of Baden (1723-1783).

The library’s holdings currently run to 160.000 volumes and include monographs, catalogues and booklets, as well as audio-visual and electronic resources. In addition the library presides over more than 1000 different magazines and periodicals, with 250 titles constantly updated through active subscriptions.

Core aspects of the collection are: general works on art history, painting, the graphic arts, as well as catalogues for exhibitions, public and private collections, and the art market, gathered from all over the world. The holdings are catalogued through an alphabetical card catalogue system and through an online catalogue (OPAC).

The library is a reference, not a lending library. The bulk of our holdings are available on open-access shelves. Magazines and periodicals have to be ordered, either in person, over the phone or via email, one open weekday in advance. Orders for the open-reader Saturday (which takes place on the last Saturday of the month) have to be submitted to us by Thursday at the latest.

Please do not hesitate to contact one of the library staff with any questions you may have: they are glad to be on hand for you.